JPH04105838A - Method and device for automatic replacing of tool between tool magazine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely perform the automatic replacement of a tool, by positioning a tool with its automatically indexing at the specified position of a main tool magazine, also performing an automatic tool change between a separately placed sub tool magazine and main tool magazine. CONSTITUTION:An NC device 10 positions a tool 6 whose change is necessary with its indexing at the specified position 13 of a main tool magazine 5, transfers a sub tool magazine 15 with its positioning at the vicinity of the main tool magazine 5, and positions a tool 6b inside the sub tool magazine 15 with its indexing at the specified position 17 of the sub tool magazine 15. An arm 19 is rotated to the main tool magazine 5 side, holding the tool 6 inside the specified position 13, and storing in the empty pot of the sub tool magazine 15 with its pulling out of the main tool magazine 5 inside. Then, the tool 6b inside the specified position 17 of the sub tool magazine 15 is pulled out of the sub tool magazine 15 inside with its holding, the tool 6b is inserted into the empty port of the main tool magazine 5 inside, and the replacement is completed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Application Field] The present invention automatically stores tools in a main tool magazine that need to be replaced due to end of life, damage, or other reasons into a sub tool magazine without manual intervention. The present invention relates to a method and device for automatically exchanging tools between tool magazines.

[Prior Art] In machining centers, tools in a main tool magazine have been replaced almost exclusively manually.

Although the prior art has a tool life determination function for determining the life of a tool, replacing the tool was performed manually as described above. Also, if the tool is damaged or
The work of replacing tools that became unnecessary due to changes in the machining schedule was also performed entirely manually.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Most of the tools used in machining centers are heavy, and manual replacement of tools requires considerable effort, and problems such as falling tools may occur during replacement. Easy and extremely dangerous. There is also the problem that replacement is overlooked even though it is necessary. Furthermore, the machining schedule by the machining center is subject to many changes, which necessitates the replacement of tools, resulting in an extremely large amount of labor for on-site workers.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and not only ensures automatic replacement of tools that require replacement, but also enables automatic replacement without manual intervention, reducing worker labor and improving safety. An object of the present invention is to provide a method and device for automatically exchanging tools between tool magazines in which tools can be exchanged without forgetting to exchange tools.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a tool replacement method for replacing tools in a main tool magazine of a machining center equipped with an automatic tool changer, which reduces the lifespan, damage and Automatic indexing and positioning of a tool that needs to be replaced, such as a used one, at a predetermined position in the main tool magazine, and a separately placed sub tool magazine is positioned at the predetermined position, and between the sub tool magazine and the main tool magazine. A tool changing device for changing tools in a main tool magazine of a machining center having an automatic tool changing device, characterized by an automatic tool changing method between tool magazines for automatically changing tools that need to be changed, wherein the main tool a determining means for determining the life of a tool in the magazine; a commanding means for commanding an NC device to replace the tool when a reason for replacing the tool such as a damaged or obsolete tool occurs; an NC device that positions tools in the main tool magazine at a predetermined position based on information; a sub-tool magazine disposed near the predetermined position; and an NC device disposed on the sub-tool magazine side or the main tool magazine side and positioned at the predetermined position. The present invention constitutes an automatic tool exchange device between tool magazines, which is provided with automatic exchange means for exchanging the positioned exchange tool with a predetermined tool in the sub-tool magazine.

[Function] Tools that require replacement due to end of life, damage, change in machining schedule, etc. are automatically positioned at a predetermined position in the main tool magazine operated by the NC device. On the other hand, the other tool that needs to be replaced is stored in a sub-tool magazine mounted on a transport vehicle, etc.
It is positioned at the predetermined position. Automatic exchange between tools arranged at the predetermined positions is performed by an automatic exchange means provided on the main tool magazine side or the sub tool magazine side. In principle, the above operations are automatically controlled by the NC device, so manual replacement is not required at all.

[Example code] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

A headstock 3 driven by a drive motor 4 is slidably supported on a column 2 of a machining center, and a main tool magazine 5 is fixed thereto. A large number of tools 6 are stored in the learn tool magazine 5. Further, a tool 6a is installed inside the spindle 7 which is pivotally supported by the headstock 3. The tool 6a in the spindle 7 and the tool 6 in the learn tool magazine 5 are automatically replaced by an automatic tool changer 8 as necessary.

Drive motor 4. Main tool magazine 5 drive mechanism 9.
The drive motors for the automatic tool changer 8 and the spindle 7 of the circuit are all connected to an NC device 10 and are automatically controlled according to a defined programming.

There are various reasons for replacing the tools 6 in the main tool magazine 5, but the first is replacement due to the life of the tools 6. Additionally, the tool 6 may be damaged or broken during use. Further, it may be necessary to change the contents of the tools 6 to be stored in the learn tool magazine 5 due to a change in the work load. First, tool 6
The following can be cited as one of the means for determining the lifespan of. For example, there is an ID element near the pull stud of all the tools 6 stored in the learn tool magazine 5]-
1 is fixed, and necessary information regarding the tool 6 is recorded in the ID element 11. Additionally, an ID element 11 is provided within the spindle 7.
A read/write head 12 is provided which engages with N.
Connected to the G equipment N10, the information of the ID element 11 is stored in the NC device 10, and the recorded information in the ID element 11 is updated via the read/write heads 1 and 2 corresponding to the use of the tool 6. I do. Therefore, when the tool 6a is installed in the spindle 7, it is possible to determine the lifespan of the tool 6a. When the tool 6a, which has reached the end of its service life, is stored again in the learn tool magazine 5, it is automatically indexed and positioned at a predetermined position 13 in the main tool magazine 5 according to a command from the NC device 10.

On the other hand, when the tool 6 is damaged, broken, or used, the command means is to issue an operation command to the NC device through manual data input from the MD 14. That is, each time such a tool 6 is indexed and positioned at a predetermined position 13 of the main tool magazine 5 by the operation of the NC device 10 based on a command from the MD 114.

The sub tool magazine 15 is mounted on the transport vehicle 16,
A large number of tools 6b that need to be replaced are stored. The sub tool magazine 15 is provided with a moving means 16 for performing the indexing operation, and the moving means 22 is connected to the NC device 10 and moves the stored tools 6b to a predetermined position 13 of the main tool magazine 5 as necessary. Predetermined position 1 opposite to
7. Perform automatic index positioning. Further, the transport vehicle 16 is also connected to the NC device 10 or the control means of the circuit,
The operation is controlled so that the sub tool magazine 15 can be positioned and moved near the main tool magazine 5 of the machining center 1 where tools need to be replaced.

19= An automatic exchange means 18 is provided on the sub tool magazine 15 side of the main tool magazine 5.

The automatic exchange means 18 automatically exchanges the tool 6 at a predetermined position 13 in the learn tool magazine 5 and the tool 6b at a predetermined position 17 in the sub-tool magazine 15, and includes an arm 19, a rotation mechanism 20 for the arm 19, It is composed of a reciprocating motion (perpendicular to the paper surface) direction mechanism 21 of the arm 1-9, and the like. Note that the rotating mechanism 20 and the reciprocating mechanism 21 are connected to the NC device 10.
connected to and automatically controlled.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described in flowcharts 1 to 1 in FIG.
Explain using.

The ID element 11, read/write head 12, and other determining means determine which tool 6 has reached the end of its life, and the information is input to the NC system N10 (step]-01). On the other hand, the contents of tool 6, which needs to be replaced due to tool damage, breakage, or obsolete tool due to a change in machining schedule, are MD114.
is input to the NC device 10 (step 102).

The NC device 10 indexes and positions the tools 6 at predetermined positions 13 of the main tool magazine 5-10 (step 10).
3). The control means of the NC device 10 or the circuit instructs the carrier to position and transport the sub-tool magazine 15 near the main tool magazine 5 that requires tool replacement, and also controls the tool 6b in the sub-tool magazine 15 that requires tool replacement. The sub tool magazine 15 is indexed and positioned at a predetermined position 17 (step 104).

The arm 19 of the automatic exchange means 18 is rotated toward the turn tool magazine 5 side by the operation of the rotation mechanism 20, and is at a predetermined position 13.
Grip the tool 6 inside. The reciprocating mechanism 21 is moved in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper, and the tool 6 located at the predetermined position 13 is pulled out from within the learn tool magazine 5. Next, the arm 19 is rotated toward the sub-tool magazine 15 by the rotation mechanism 20, and is stored in the empty pot of the sub-tool magazine 15. Tool 6
When the tool 6b is stored in the empty pot, grasp the tool 6b in the predetermined position 17 of the sub tool magazine 15, pull it out from the sub tool magazine 15, and rotate the arm 19 toward the turn tool magazine 5 side to remove the learn tool. The tool 6b is inserted into the empty pot in the magazine 5, and the replacement is completed (step 105). The tool 6 returned to the sub-tool magazine 15 is updated with a new one (step 106). The following 1 normal automatic tool change operation is performed between the spindle 7 and the main tool magazine 5 (step], 07).

Thereafter, similar operations are repeated.

In this embodiment, the ID element 11 and the read/write head 12 are used as the determination means, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Further, the command means may also be automatically executed without depending on the MD 114. Further, although the automatic exchange means 18 is a simple one as shown in the figure, it is not limited thereto, and the automatic exchange means 18 may be attached to the sub-tool magazine 15 side. Moreover, although the sub-tool magazine 15 is mounted on the transport vehicle 16, it may be manually transported to the machining center 1 side.

=11- [Effect of the invention] According to the present invention, the following effects can be achieved.

1) Since all tool exchange operations are performed automatically, the labor required by the operator is greatly reduced.

2) Since tools are automatically replaced, the replacement work can be done quickly and safely.

3) Since tool replacement is automatically determined by the determination means, etc., troubles such as forgetting to replace tools that have reached the end of their service life do not occur.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment. 1... Machining center, 2... Column, 3...
Headstock, 4... Drive motor, 5... Main tool magazine, 6.6a, 6b... Tool, 7... Spindle, 8... Automatic tool changer, 9... Movement mechanism, 1
0... NG device, 11... ID element, 12... Read/write head, 13.17... Predetermined position, 14...
...MDI, 15...Sub tool magazine, 16°°
. Transport vehicle, 18... Automatic exchange means, 19... Arm, 20... Rotating mechanism, 21... Reciprocating mechanism, 22...
·transportation.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A tool replacement method for replacing tools in the main tool magazine of a machining center equipped with an automatic tool changer, in which tools that require replacement due to end of life, damage, obsolescence, etc. are placed in a predetermined position in the main tool magazine. Between tool magazines characterized by automatically indexing and positioning, positioning a separately placed sub-tool magazine at the predetermined position, and automatically exchanging tools that need to be exchanged between the sub-tool magazine and the main tool magazine. Automatic tool change method. (2) A tool changing device for changing tools in a main tool magazine of a machining center having an automatic tool changing device, which includes a determining means for determining the life of the tools in the main tool magazine, and a determining means for determining the life of tools in the main tool magazine, a commanding means for instructing an NC device to replace the tool when a reason for replacing the tool occurs; an NC device for positioning the tool in the main tool magazine at a predetermined position based on information from the determining means and the commanding means; and the predetermined position. a sub-tool magazine disposed nearby; and an automatic exchange means disposed on the sub-tool magazine side or the main tool magazine side for exchanging the replacement tool positioned at the predetermined position with a predetermined tool in the sub-tool magazine; An automatic tool exchange device between tool magazines, characterized by being provided with. (3) The automatic tool exchange between tool magazines according to claim (2), wherein the sub-tool magazine is placed on a carrier that is automatically controlled by the NC device and positioned and transported to the predetermined position. Device.